OUTPOURING

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” ( Luke 6 : 38 NKJV)

Yesterday while having coffee with a couple of brothers in Christ one of the brothers expressed his concern about not feeling accepted in his church as he has a heart for the lost and wants to be utilized by the Lord. This man is in his mid 60’s and a very gentle soul whom is questioning his calling from the Lord as his church will not embrace people who desire to serve. I have visited this church several times and witnessed and discerned this very thing.

As Christians and followers/believers we must have full realization that while only Christ can be all things to all people the Lord has given people spiritual gifts to be utlized along with the five-fold ministry.

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. ( Ephesians 4 : 11-16 NKJV)

This brother in Christ was asked several times by other churches to go on mission trips to help preach the gospel and share the love of Christ Jesus but when he asked his church leadership for support and prayer covering they told him that this mission trip was not of the Lord for him. I am saddened by this to say the least. While several churches asked this man to go on mission trips his own church was not supportive or embracing the passion and committment this man had to witness to the lost.

We must recognize and embrace the true five fold ministry for the edification of the saints and not allow our personal visions and callings to be exalted above the Kingdom of the Lord. One’s personal calling is not to be exalted above the calling of others. We all serve one Lord, under one Kingdom, for the glory of the Lord Jesus.

The body of Christ needs to edify the saints utilizing the five-fold ministry as well as the gifts of the Spirit to equip the saints for their callings and ministry. I have witnessed this also as I have supported many churches and leaders in their callings and visions yet when the Lord has sent me out while I was supporting their ministries I was accused of a lack of commitment to their visions and ministries.

The “great commission” isn’t about all of us in one building it’s about building one Kingdom and preaching the gospel to the four corners of the world. As I was conversing with my brothers about this the Lord spoke several scriptures into my spirit. The Lord brought into my spirit Luke 6:38 which is a very popular tithing verse that we hear so often. While I believe this scripture to be true in it’s context here is what the Lord spoke to me in my spirit.

“Why do so many leaders tell my children during the tithing offering that the more they give the more they shall receive yet when my people want to utilize their spiritual gifts I have given them they are shut down. The Lord said my grace is to be given away so that I may pour more grace into my people.”

The Lord gave me the following verses:

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” ( Acts 3 : 6 NKJV)

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. ( Matthew 10 : 8-10 NKJV)

Let’s not exalt the anointing, giftings or callings above the Lord Jesus for we are nothing without Christ Jesus. All the glory goes to the Lords as we are nothing without Christ Jesus.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. ( John 15 : 4-5 NKJV)